Bottle-filler.



I No. 833.988.

PATENTBD OCT. 23, 1906.

T. L. VALERIUS. BOTTLE FILLER.

APPLmATIoN FILED AUG. 17. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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rus Nomus PATENTED OCT. 23, 1906.

T. L. VALERIUS.

BOTTLE FILLER.

APPLICATION FILED mm1?, 190s.

3 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE L. VALERIUS,V OF FORT ATKINSON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO CREAMERYPACKAGE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLI- NOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE- Specification of Letters Patent.

FiLLER.

Patented Oct. 28, 1906.

Application filed August 17. 1903. Serial No. 169,790.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IHEODORE L. VALE- RIUs, of Fort Atkinson, 1n the county of Jefferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented bottles that have been previously arranged in their crates or cases.

Another obv'ect of my invention is to provide a bottle-iiller which will operate rapidly and by means of which the difficulty presented by the foaming ofthe liquid may be overcome.

The particular 'object of my invention is to provide a machine that is adapted for opera- 'tion by hand and which maybe built and sold at a low cost.

My invention consists generally in a bottle- Afiller comprising a supply-tank, in combination with a liquld duct or stand-pipe connected therewith and provided with a bottle-closure, a vent-tube arranged within said duct or pipe, and an easily-renewable valve provide on said vent for said duct or stand-pipe and, further, my invention consists in a suitable tank, in combination with. a iller cherefor having a suit able air-vent and a universalmovement connection extending between said tank and valve and ermit-ting lateral movement of the valve wlth relation to the tank, whereby the filler-valve may be moved from one bottle to another; and, further, my invention consists in a bottle-filler compris- .inv a sup ly-tank, in combination with a liquic stan -pipe connected therewith, means supporting said stand-pipe, wherein said pipe is vertical v and laterally movable, said pipe being provlded -with a suitable air-vent and a liquid-valve, whereby'a group ofbottles may be successively filled; and, further, my invention consists in various details of construction and in combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

' The invention Will be more readily 'under-J stood by reference to the accomprvjm drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in Which- Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of a bottlefilling machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation illustrating the iller in operation. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 2. Fi 4 is an enlarged sectional detail s ubstantlally on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of the valved stand-pipe. Fig. '6 is a similar view showing the liquid-valve open. Fig. 7

is a view of the lower end of the bottle-closure and valve, and Fig. 8 is a detail'elevation of the vent-pipe and the liquid-valve.

In the drawings, 2 represents the supply tank or reservoir of my machine. I preferably elevate this upon a standard 3, which has a broad base-plate 4. Any suitable means may be used for maintaining a supply of liquid in the tank 2, the pipe 5 representing such means. In front of the machine I arrange a bench or support 6 for the bottle cases 0r crates, Whereon the same slide easily. These crates contain the bottles 8 to be illed, and when a crate has been placed before the machine it need not be moved until all the bottles therein have been filled. For filling them one after the other I employ a vertically and laterally movable combined bottle-closure and filling-valve. This device is connected with the tank 2 and may be moved from bottle to bottle, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The closure and filling-valve are attached to the lower end rovided with a hand-grip 10 and is s i ably iield in the vertical bearing 11, which 1s preferably made in two parts, as shown, to ermit the removal of the stand pipe. aid bearing is placed on the free end of a jointed arm 12, composed of ytwo rectangular gate-like parts that are hinged together. The inner end of the `arm is secured to the side of the tank by a hinge 13, and the stand-pipe is not only supported in the-free end of the arm, but may be moved from place to place above the bench, as reqfuired, to fill the several bottles thereon. The upper end of the stand-pipe 9 is provided with a collar i4, and between this and the top of the beari 11 is a lifting-spring 15, which normally i,s dg 'C'g stand-pipe in its raised position.

of the stand-pipe 9. Said stand-pipe IOO .les

The construction of the stand-pipe and of the filler-valve upon the lower end thereof is well shown in Figs. 5 to 8, and as trierein illustrated the lower part of the stand-pipeis rovided with a thread 16, that receives the internally-threaded boss 17 of the inverted cup 18. This cup in turn receives the comressible bottle-closure 19, the lower end or ottom of which is reduced to fit within a bottle-neck, leaving a shoulder 20 to bear u on the top of the bottle. The compressib e closure surrounds the lower end of the stand-pi e, and said lower end is smooth to permit tilie vertical adjustment of the closure thereon, as indicated by the different ositions of said part in Figs. 5 and 6. The ower end of the stand-pipe is closed by a small valve-disk 21, containing anannular groove 22, in which is a compressible ring 23, that packs against the end 9 of the standpipc when the disk is raised. This disk is attached to and supported by the air-vent tube 24, provided within the stand-pipe 9. The vent extends through the disk 21, and through it the air is expelled when a bottle is being filled. The upper end of the venttube 24 is also open, and the vent-tube and the valve-disk 21 are su ported in tlie elevated or closed position by a s ring 25, arranged about the upper end of t e vent-tube between the cap or collar 14 and a collar 24 on the top ofthe vent-tube. In this manner the lower end ot the stand-pipe is normally closed b the valve-disk 21.

It wil be noted that the filler-valve on the lower end of the stand-pipe normally stands some distance above the tops of the bottles and to close a bottle must be depressed. For thus depressing the bottle-closure to seat the same in the neck of a bottle and for thereafter depressing or opening the valve 21 at the lower end of the stand-pipe I preferably employ a treadle 26, which is pivoted at the base of the standard or column 3. The collar 14 and the collar 24 are each provided with an arm 14 and 24, respectively. These arms receive a vertically-slidable rod 27, having a head 28, that is normally above the lug 24".

29 is a collar placed intermediately on the rod 27 and between which and the lug 14 is a spring 30. The rod passes through the lug 14l and has a loop or eye 27 to receive the end of the cable or cord 31. This cord passes down over a pulley 32 on the jointed arm 12 and then around a pulley 33, arranged substantially at the middle pivotoint of the arm, and thence over the pul ey 34, and from thence down to the -treadle 26. Preferably the pulleys are so positioned that the. tension of the cable or cord 31 tends to buckle the arm, and when the operator removes his hand from the grip 10 and steps u on the iadle 26 the free end of the arm, with the c l-pipe, will be moved inward or back toward the tank, so that the filled case or crate may be liftedfrom the bench without endangerin the filler mechanism. When *he stand-pipe 1s free, a slight stroke on the treadle wil thus effect the retirement of the filler mechanism; but when the stand-pipe is held directly above a bottle to prevent the buckling on the arm the 'pull ofthe treadle, o erating throu h the cable, will draw down t e rod 27 an therewith the stand-pipe. The spring 30 is stronger than the spring 15, and when placed under tension by the cable 31 thrusts the standipe downward in the bearing 11 to press t e closure 19 into and upon talle top of a bottle. The bottle serves as a sto for the stand-pipe, and after the closure is seated thereon the further depression of the treadle 26 operates to draw the rod 27 downward a ainst the tension of the spring 30 until the ead 28 enga es the lug 24, whereupon the vent-pipe an valve 21 will be lowered. In this manner the o ening of the liquid-valve at the lower end o the stand-pi e is delayed until the closure has been tig tly seated on the bottle. When the treadle is released, the first result is to free the spring 30 to disengage the rod 27 from the vent-tube and ermit the closing of the liquid-valve 25. he next effect is to allow the further and bodily retirement of the spring 30, whereupon the stand-pi e 9 will be elevated by its spring 15, thus lifting the filler-valve and closure out of the bottle.

It will be observed that part of the closure and the disk 21 enter the to of the bottle when the closure is seated tiereon. These parts displace liquid that would otherwise occupy theneck of the bottle, and by adjusting the cup 18 this displacement may be increased or iminished, as the operator may desire. The connection between the stand-pi e 9 and the tank 2 is made by means of a te escoping tube or ipe 36. The inner end of this pipe 36 is slida ly arranged in the ball-sleeve 37, having packing-boxes 38 on one or both ends. Theball 37 isheldinasocket in thefront wall of the tank, said socket comprising the plates 39 and 40, formed to fit the ball and making tight joints therewith. A V-groove 41 is provided between the plates 39 and 40, and this is preferably illed with material that is packed upon the ball when the outer plate 40 is put in lace. The ball-jointpermits the placing o the pipe at any angle, and, as shown in the drawings, said pipe is ada ted to slide back and forth through the allsleeve 37 in any of its positions or angles. The inner end of the pipe 36 is open within the tank 2. On the outer end of the pipe 36 is a yoke 43, the elbow portion 44 of which is a continuation of the pi e 36 and is seated in the opening 45 in the side of the stand-pipe. The connection is maintained by means of a set-screw 46 in the opposite arm of the yoke pressing against the opposite side of the IOO IOS

stand-pipe. These parts form a horizontal pivot and permit the vertical movement of the stand-pi e without breaking the liquid connection iiliereto. Ifdesired, the upper A end of. the vent-tube 24 may have an extenpressed, extends above the surface of the quid in the supply-tank and a stand of liquid is always maintained therein.

It is obvious that the bottles may be elevated to the stand-pipe, either one at a time orcollectively, in place of lowering the standpipe, as herein shown and described. It is also obvious that two or more stand-pipes may be arranged upon the jointed arm for simultaneous operation. Still other modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, and I therefore do not confine the invention to the specific constructions herein shown and described.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The tank isiirst lled with liquid, a

portion of which will pass through the pipe 36 and rise in the stand-pipe 9. The machine is then in readiness for use, whereupon one or more bottles are placed upon the bench, the same bein preferably left within the crate or case in w ch they arrive at the machine. The operator then grasps the handle or gri lO'and places the stand-pipe over one of t e bottles. He then de resses the treadle, and thereby, throu h ca le 31, forces down the stand-pi e unti the bottleclosure 19 is firmly seate .in the neck of the bottle. Further movement of the treadle operates to o en the liquid-valve at. the lower end of t e 4stand-pipe, whereupon the liquid will rapidly flow into the bottle. Meantime the airwhich'is' eX elled by the entrance of the liquid passes o lthrough the vent-tube- Theilling of. the bottle is watched. by the operator, and'when the liquid-level approaches the top of the bottle he releases the treadle 26, whereupon the liquidvalve 21 will be closed land the stand-pipe elevated b Ythe several springs. The standpipe is t en placed over the next bottle and the operation repeated. V The pivotal arrangement of the supporting-arm and of the liquid-pi e 36 ermits the o erator to reach any bott e in t e crate. en all the bottles in the crate have been filled, the crate may be pushed to one side on the bench or lifted therefrom. In the latter case the operator should rst' strike the treadle to re- .tract or retire the filler before removing the 1. In a bottle-liller, a reservoir, in combi- Anation with a liquid-pipe, having a universal# oint extensible connection with said re'ser voir, a bottle-closure provided on 'the free end of said pipe, means for controlling the flow of liquid through said pipe, and means.

normally elevating and closing said valves,

substantially as described.

2. In a bottle-filler, a suitable reservoir,` in

combination with a jointed arm, a stand-pi e carried by said arm, a filler-valve and bott eclosure provided on said stand-pipe, and a flexible connection between said stand-pipe and reservoir, substantially as described-J .f

3. In a bottle-filler, a suitable reservoir, in

combination with a stand-pipe, means sup porting said stand-pipe for horizontal, lateral L movement, with relation to said reservoir,l means for moving said stand-pi e vertically,- and a suitable liquid connection etween said reservoir and stand-pipe, substantially as described.

4. In a bottle-filler, a reservoir, in combinationwith a li uid stand-pipe, flexibly 'connected with sai reservoir, for lateral movement with relation thereto, a bottle-closure arranged on the lower end of said stand-pipe,

means for depressing said stand-pipe,= to seat said closure in a bottle, a liquid-valve an means automaticall o en' the seating'oisaid ly described. y

5. In a bottle-filler, a suitable reservoir, in combination with a stand-pipe, a support for said stand-pipe wherein said stand-pipe is l I' osure, su stantial as' vertically and laterally movable with res ect'l to said reservoir, a bottle-closure provided on the lower end of said stand-pipe, a liquidvalve also thereon, a v -n for successively depressing said .bottle-closure and valve, substantially as described.

IOO

6. In a bottle-filler, a suitable reservoir,'in

combination with a stand-pipe, aguide' wherein said standipe is vertically 'movable, and a swivele tube forming a liquid connection between said reservoir and said I stand-pipe, substantially as described.

7. In a bottle-filler, a suitable reservoir,-in

combination with a stand-pipe, a swiveled tube forming a li uid connection between said reservoir an stand-pipe, a vertical guide for said stand-pipe, a bottle-closure and a valve provided on the standipe and means for successively seating sai closure and opening said valve, substantially as described.

8. In a bottle-filler, a suitable reservoir, in I combination with a stand-pi e, a swiveled liquid connection between sai reservoir and stand-pipe, a bottle-closure on said standipe, a support wherein said stand-pipe is e d vertically, and means for successively depressing said stand-pipe and o "iing said 'va "i ve, substantially as described'. l

9. In a bottle-filler, a suitable re .ervoir, in

combination with a suitable bottle-su port, a standipe held vertically above sai support an laterally movable with relation to said reservoir, a flexible liquid connection between the reservoir and'stand-pi e, a suitable liquid-valve, an air-vent, a ottle-closure on the lower end of said stand-pipe, and means for seating said bottle-closure upon a bottle and-for opening said valve, substantially as described.

10. yIn a bottle-ller, a suitable reservoir, in combination with a stand-pi e, a support for said stand-pipe, permitting t e movement of the stand-pipe toward and from said reservoir, a bottle-closure and valve for said stand-pipe, means for moving the stand-pipe vertically and openin said valve, a liquidpipe having a universa -joint connection with said reservoir, and a swiveled connection with said stand-pipe, substantially as described.

lin combination with a jointed arm suitably pivoted, a stand-pipe carried by said arm, a suitable liquid connection between 'said reservoir and stand-pipe, a bottle-closure and valve rovided on said stand-pipe, s rings norma ly elevating said stand-pipe an closing said valve, an operating-spring interposed between said stand-pipe and valve, and means upon said arm, connected with said operating-spring, as and for the purpose described.

13. In a bottle-liller, a suitable reservoir, in combination with a jointed arm, a standpipe and bearing upon said arm wherein said stand-pipe is removably held, a liquid-pipe swiveled to the lower end of said stand-pipe and having a universal cou ling upon sald reservoir, a bottle-closure an valve upon said stand-pipe, and means upon said arm for actuating said stand-pipe and valve, substantially as described.

14. In a bottle-filler, a suitable reservoir, in combination with a stand-pipe, a support for said -standp` e, plermittmg the lateral movement thereolpwit relation to said reservoir, a suitable valve for said stand-pipe, means for actuating said stand-pipe and valve, a liquid-pipe extending between said reservoir and stand-pipe, and a detachable swivel connection between said .pi e and detachable stand-pipe, substant1al y as described.

15. Ina bottle-filler, a suitable reservoir,

4tube having an lower end, and a yoke having a hollow pora sleeve universally jointed therein, a pipe, 36, slidable in said sleeve, a liquid stand-pipe jointed to the free end of said fpipe, and means carrying said' stand-pipe or operation, substantially as described.

16. In a bottle-filler, a suitable reservoir, in combination with a jointed arm pivoted thereon, a stand-pipe arranged in said arm and connected with said reservoir, a bottleclosure and a valve upon said stand-pipe, means upon said arm for actuating said standipe and valve and said means being operable to retract said arm and stand-pipe, substantiall as described.

17. In a ottle-iller, a reservoir, in combination with a bottle-closure, a filler-valve connected with said reservoir, a universalmovement sup ort for said closure and valve, a treadle ibr actuating said closure and valve, when the latter are held against movement in a horizontal plane, and said treadle being o erable to retract said closure and valve w en loosed, substantially as described.

18. In a bottle-ller, a suitable reservoir, in combination with a standipe, a bottleclosure and a liquid-valve on t e lower end of said stand-pipe, an extensible horizontal tube forming a liquid connection between said stand-pipe and reservoir, and an airvent extendlng through said valve and standpipe, substantially as described.

19. In a bottle-filler, a reservoir, in combination with aliquid-pipe, having a universal-joint extensible pi e connection with said reservoir, a compresslble bottle-closure, 19, provided on the free end of said pipe, a valve, 21, for controlling the ow of liquid through said pipe, and means normally elevating and closing said valve against said pipe, substantially as described.

20. In a bottle-filler, a reservoir, in combination with a stand-pipe, means connecting the lower parts of said reservoir and stand-pipe, a bottle-closure and valve provided on said stand-pipe and a jointed arm supporting said stand-pi e for vertical and lateral movement with re ation to said reservoir, substantially as described.

21; 'In a bottle-filler, a reservoir, a substantially horizontal liquid-tube having a telescopic connection with said reservoir, .a swinging arm, a ller-tube,supported by said arm, said filler-tube having an inlet-opening adjacent its lower end, and a yoke having a hollow portion connecting with said inleto ening, and an opposed member engaging t e op osite side of said tube, the inlet portion o said yoke also connecting with said liquid-tube substantially as described.

22. In a bottle-filler, a reservoir, a liquidtube having a universal-j oint extensible connection with the reservoir, a swinging arm, a ller-tube supported by said arm, said fillerinlet-opening adjacent its IOO IIO

tion connecting said liquid-tube to said inletopening and also having an opposed member engaging the opposite side of said filler-tube substantially as described.

23. A bottle-filler comprising a liquid-reservoir, a swinging arm carried thereby, a vertically-movable filler-valve and bottle-closure carried by said arm, and means for deplessing first the bottle-closure and then the lO ler-valve by a single movement; substantially as described.

24. A bottle-filler comprising a liquid-reservoir a swinging arm carried thereby, a vertically-movable filler-pipe normally supported by a spring resting on said arm, means for depressing lthe filler-pipe, a second spring stronger than the first spring inter osed between the lleripe and said e ressing means, a bottle-c osure carried by t e fillerzo p ipe, and suitable connections from the fillerpipe to the reservoir; substantially as described.

25. A bottle-filler comprising a liquid-reservoir, a swinging arm carried thereby, a vertically-movable stand-p'pe sup orted by a spring resting on said arm, said stand-pipe being provided with a erforated lug, a venttube within the stan -pipe and carrying a filler-valve upon its lower end, said vent-tube being sup orted by a spring resting upon the upper en of the stand-pipe and having a perforatedjlug upon its upper end, a depressingrod passing through said perforated lugs, and a spring to yieldingly transmit the downward movement of the depressing-rod to the stand-pi ewhereby the bottle-closure will be yielding Seated on a bottle; substantially as describefi 26. Av bottle-filler comprising a jointed arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane ut vertically immovable, in combination with a vertical filler-tube mounted for independent vertical movement upon said arm; substantially as described.

27. A bottle-filler comprising a hinged arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane but vertically immovable, in combination with a spring-supported filler-tube mounted for independent vertical movement upon said arm, and means for depressing said tube; substantially as described.

28. A bottle-filler comprising a reservoir, a hinged arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane but vertically immovable, in combination with a spring-supported vertical iillertube mounted for independent vertical movement upon said arm, a bottle-closure upon said tube, and suitable liquid-su ly connections from the reservoir to the iiie tube; substantially as described.

29. A bottle-filler comprising a reservoir, a hinged arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane but vertically immovable, iu combination with a spring-supported vertical fillertube mounted for independent vertical movement upon said arm, a bottle-closure upon said tube, and telescopic liquid connectlons from the reservoir to the filler-tube; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 11th day of June, A. D. 1903, at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, in the presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE L. VALERIUS.

Witnesses:

C. G. HAWLEY, B. K. SEFTON. 

